Cedar waxwings in pyracantha (photo by Jim Hoagland)
Glenna Matthews, Pinal County Master Gardener
Your Southeast Pinal County Master Gardeners (formally SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners) are pleased to invite you to attend our following presentation:
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m., “Birds of Southeast Pinal County and How to Attract Them to Your Backyard,” will be presented by Jim Hoagland, Birdman of SaddleBrooke Ranch, and Kimberly Matsushino, Habitat at Home manager for Tucson Audubon Society. This will be an in-person presentation at SaddleBrooke’s DesertView Theatre. This colorful presentation will include Jim’s many photographs of birds he has captured with his camera in the three years he has wandered the communities, parks, trails, and canyons of our region. Kimberly will share her knowledge and expertise of how and what to plant that will bring these many bird species into your gardens and backyards.
Jim moved to SaddleBrooke Ranch in June 2020 following a construction career in California. Since moving here, he has led bird field trips on the local nature trail and, hence, has been given the title Birdman of SaddleBrooke Ranch. He has recorded 178 species at the Ranch and more than 250 species in Pinal County. He co-authors a monthly article in the SaddleBrooke Ranch Roundup titled “Nature’s Way” and delights our communities with his photographs and bird knowledge through social media.
Kimberly is a native of Tucson who grew up exploring and appreciating Southeast Arizona’s wild lands with her family and dogs. Wanting to learn everything about the plants and animals she grew up with, Kim graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in conservation biology and an affinity for birds. She began working for Tucson Audubon Society in 2015 where she now serves as the Habitat at Home program manager. For questions, contact Sheilah Britton at [email protected].
On Oct. 11 “Irrigation Basics,” was presented by Dale Suter. Many of us take our irrigation systems for granted until they stop working. Dale Suter is an avid gardener and a longtime Arizona resident. He retired after spending more than 30 years in the public sector. Over the years, he has designed and installed multiple irrigation systems. Two of his larger projects include expanding the irrigation system at Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm and designing and installing more than a mile of irrigation at the Oracle Community Learning Garden. His presentation provided a basic overview of residential irrigation systems, including tips on how to design and maintain these systems.
On Oct. 10 and 11 a one-hour orientation meeting was held to introduce our Master Gardener program. If you are interested in environmentally responsible landscaping and gardening and have a desire to teach those principles/skills from research-based materials to others, then you should consider becoming a Master Gardener. We answered questions and explained the Master Gardener program, its expectations, and details regarding our new online course.
For questions or additional information, contact Sandee Heighton at [email protected].